We are so glad you have chosen to
pursue your educational goals at our
institution. During your time at MTSU you
will have the opportunity to explore many
ways to get involved. One of the avenues
of involvement that we are proud to offer is
membership in a fraternity or sorority.
Our fraternity and sorority community
represents a diverse population of students.
Members are extremely active on campus and
hold key positions in numerous organizations. You
will find Greek students in almost every walk of life
MTSU has to offer. Fraternities and sororities have
made significant contributions to both the university
and local community through their programs and
philanthropic endeavors.
The learning you encounter at MTSU should not
just take place in the classroom. Leadership skills and
relationship building are an important part of your personal
and professional development. Joining a fraternity or
sorority will help prepare you for your present and future
aspirations. I encourage you to consider fraternity or sorority
membership and all of its possibilities.

09

Educational Programs
Risk Management

10

A Week in the Life

11-12

Family Guide

13-14

Glossary
Greek Alphabet

Welcome to Middle Tennessee State University!
On behalf of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at
Middle Tennessee State University, welcome to campus!Â
As an undergraduate, joining a fraternity or sorority is
one of the best decisions you can make. Fraternity and
sorority membership offers one of the most dynamic and
memorable experiences available to you as a college
student.Â We hope that you will consider joining us! Enjoy
this preview of fraternity and sorority life at MTSU!

SOCIALIZE

LEAD
The fraternity and sorority community offers
countless leadership opportunities. Below is
just a sample of the leadership experiences
you could encounter:
•• Managing executive teams
•• Serving on or chairing committees
•• Managing budgets
•• Working and networking with alumni
•• Educating and developing members and
new members

“Joining
a fraternity
has been the
best decision I
have ever made.
I would not be
the person I am
today without the
experiences I have
shared with the
Greek Community.”
James Lee, Student
Body President
and Alpha Tau
Omega
Member

VOLUNTEER

03

Philanthropy is a fundamental tenet of fraternity and sorority life.
The following are some ways fraternities and sororities give back:
•• Participate in service activities benefiting the Murfreesboro
and surrounding communities
•• Organize special events that raise money for local and
national charities
•• Over the past year, the MTSU fraternity and sorority community
contributed more than 9,000 hours of community service and
donated over $64,000 to local and national philanthropies

By joining a fraternity or sorority you will make lifelong friendships and
make countless memories created through brother or sister relationships.
You will also participate in social events such as dinner exchanges,
homecoming, parent’s weekend, backyard barbeques, intramurals,
mixers, and formals. Networking and mentoring opportunities are
guaranteed. Expect to build relationships with:
•• Chapter alumni
•• Inter/national staff/officers
•• Campus faculty/staff

LIVE
Fraternities and sororities are values-based organizations, meaning that,
as a member you’ll be asked to put the chapter’s values into action and
align personal values with those of the organization. Through participation
in chapter programming, members will deepen their understanding and
everyday practice of the organization’s values.
•• Lead by example
•• Change the world

04

INTERFRATERNITY
COUNCIL
(IFC)
During the mid-1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, men
attending institutions of higher
education realized the need
for teaching in life and not
just academics. Thus, fraternal
organizations were formed with ideals
centered on brotherhood, leadership,
scholarship, and service. At MTSU, there
are 12 fraternities. The Interfraternity
Council acts as a self-governing body to
these organizations and promotes the
valuable opportunities each chapter offers.
How to Join: The Interfraternity Council
utilizes an open recruitment process,
meaning organizations recruit year round.
Most fraternities will host two to three weeks
of recruitment events at the beginning of each
semester. To find out more about recruitment
events and organizations, attend an
IFC Informational.

How to Join: Attend an MGC
Informational in the fall or spring
The purpose of the Multicultural Greek
semester. For more information on
Council at MTSU is to act as a governing
joining, contact individual organizations
body for member organizations. The
about the details of their process. If
council works together as allies in change,
you are interested in starting a new
encourages responsible behavior amongst
organization or becoming a founding
one another, and promotes retention
member under this council contact the
of minorities in higher education. MGC
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
was founded in 2009 at MTSU and is in
the process of expanding the council to
Lambda Theta Alpha (LQA)
include additional multicultural chapters.

06

PANHELLENIC COUNCIL
(PHC)
The Panhellenic Council is the
unifying, governing, and coordinating
body of the six National Panhellenic
Conference member organizations
at MTSU. PHC strives to enhance
the development of each chapter
and its members through academic
growth, social development, and
leadership opportunities. The
Panhellenic Council upholds the
values upon which our organizations
were founded and promotes an
atmosphere that reflects friendship
and sisterhood.
How to Join: Most women
participate in formal recruitment
held in September each year. Formal
recruitment is a mutual selection
process that allows women to meet
all six chapters. The formal process
is the Panhellenic Council’s primary
method of attaining new members.
Alpha Chi Omega (ΑΧΩ)
Alpha Delta Pi (ΑΔΠ)
Alpha Omicron Pi (ΑΟΠ)
Chi Omega (ΧΩ)
Kappa Delta (ΚΔ)
Zeta Tau Alpha (ΖΤΑ)

07

NATIONAL
PANHELLENIC COUNCIL
(NPHC)
NPHC is an international umbrella
organization comprised of what are
considered to be the Historically
African American Greek letter
organizations. This council is
commonly referred to as the “Divine
Nine.” The National Pan-Hellenic
Council at MTSU consists of all
nine of these organizations. NPHC
serves as the official coordinating
and governing agency, works to
further program unity, and promotes
interaction through forums,
meetings, and functions.
Fraternities:

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Greek Leadership Summit
Every January, chapter presidents and
council executive board officers go on
an overnight retreat to focus on building
relationships and developing goals as a
community. This experience offers leaders
the opportunity to:
• appreciate the differences in others
• develop relationships and network
• develop skills to communicate,
collaborate, and deal with conflict
• have conversations about the
strengths, weaknesses, and needs of
the fraternity and sorority community
• leave encouraged, energized,
and confident

New Member Education Series

Risk Management
GAMMA - Greeks Advocating the
Mature Management of Alcohol
GAMMA provides interactive
programming on alcohol and other drug
awareness, education and discussion
regarding safe decision making, and helps
build on the strengths of the fraternity
and sorority community in reducing
consequences of high risk behavior.
Event Planning
Organizations are encouraged to
complete a Fraternity and Sorority Life
Event Planning Form prior to each event.
The office reviews the form and the team
responds with relevant information and
suggestions. The Office of Fraternity and
Sorority Life and chapter/faculty advisors
work closely with chapter leaders to
identify risks and educate on how to
appropriately execute an event.

Upon joining a fraternity or sorority at
MTSU, new members participate in a series
hosted by each council that will focus on
the transition from high school to college.
Time management,
hazing prevention,
MTSU STATEMENT ON HAZING
and what it means to
Middle
Tennessee State University has unconditionally opposed any
be a fraternity man or
situation
created intentionally or unintentionally to produce mental or
sorority woman
physical discomfort, embarrassment, or ridicule. Freedom from humility
at MTSU are key
and danger of hazing is guaranteed to every student on campus.
topics.

09

A WEEK IN THE LIFE
Monday-Thursday

These days will typically consist
of sisterhood and brotherhood
events, study hours, and leadership
committee meetings. You may also
participate in other organization’s
philanthropy events during this time.
Plan to spend three to five hours with
your organization during the week
outside of chapter meetings.

Friday-Saturday

Weekends are filled with community
service events, social events, and chapter
events. Some of these activities may
include mixers/date parties, chapter formals,
and chapter retreats. In addition, you may
encounter chapter programming opportunities
that focus on individual development. You will
also see many of our fraternity and sorority
members at MTSU athletic events over the
weekend! Go Blue Raiders!

Sunday

Most chapters on campus hold individual chapter
meetings during the evening on Sundays. Chapter
meetings usually last between one to two hours
and consist of important chapter updates, academic
recognition, and facilitated discussions regarding
chapter business.

TIME MANAGEMENT

Managing your schedule is the key to getting the most out of your experience. Chapters
understand that you are here for academics first, so plan your study hours first and chapter
events second. It’s easy to take on too much, so remember its okay to let the chapter know
you need time to study, work, or spend time with family!

10

FAMILY GUIDE
IS FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE NEW
TO YOU?
This section is designed to provide helpful information
and answer frequently asked questions about
fraternities and sororities.
There are many myths about fraternities and sororities,
but the reality is men and women that belong to
these organizations are committed to their academics,
volunteer within the community, develop and
strengthen their leadership skills, and form a campus
network that consists of students and administrators.
All fraternities and sororities are based on values,
ethics, and standards. Keep an open-mind and consider
all of the benefits fraternity and sorority membership
has to offer!

FAQ

HELPFUL HINTS:
•• Be supportive of your student.
•• Learn more about the
organization your student
is thinking about joining by
checking out the inter/national
organization website.
•• If you have a question about
fraternity or sorority life, ask
the Office of Fraternity and
Sorority Life. Don’t buy into
gossip or hearsay.
•• Know the name and phone
number of the chapter
president, new member
educator, and chapter advisor.
•• Talk with your student.
Phone calls, e-mails, and
care packages are always
appreciated.

“Our daughter is very involved with her sorority and we couldn’t
be happier that four years ago she chose to participate in sorority
recruitment. Honestly speaking, we never thought one of our
children would be “Greek.” Over the past four years, we have been
able to participate with Maggie during many of her sorority events
and have always been so impressed with their desire to help others.”

11

TREY AND KIM LEE, PARENTS OF ALPHA OMICRON PI MEMBER

How will my student benefit from joining a
fraternity or sorority?
Your student will encounter many advantages,
some of these may include:
•• A support system to help ease
the adjustment to college and life
after graduation.
•• Scholastic resources to help students
achieve their academic goals.
•• Leadership skills acquired through
hands-on experiences.
•• Encouragement to get involved, stay
involved, and maximize their potential
on campus.
•• Opportunities for active participation
in community service projects.
How will joining a fraternity or sorority
affect my student academically?
Academic success is one of the
founding principles of fraternities and
sororities. Chapters realize that academic
achievement is the main priority of
their members. Organizations promote
scholarship by providing academic
resources for their members including
advisor support, study groups,
scholarships, and award recognition.

What is the financial obligation?
Chapters collect dues and membership
fees from every member. Most
organizations have one-time initiation
fees, plus semester dues. Dues are
spent on philanthropic events, social
events, scholarship programming,
membership recruitment, and parent/
alumni programming. Many chapters
offer payment plans and scholarships to
help their members meet their
financial obligations.
What about hazing?
Hazing is contrary to the missions and
values of fraternities and sororities. The
state of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee
State University, and all inter/national
fraternities and sororities have policies
against hazing.

Who is in charge of the fraternities and
sororities?
Individual chapters elect officers to manage
the day-to-day operations of the organization.
These officers are assisted by alumni who act
as advisors. Each chapter also communicates
with their inter/national organization, which
offers support and direction through paid
professional staff and regional volunteers.
Chapters on campus are also guided by the
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life which
consists of two full time staff members that
work closely with the organizations at MTSU.

12

GLOSSARY
Active: A member of a fraternity or sorority who
has been initiated and is currently in college.
Alumnus/Alumni: An initiated member of a
fraternity or sorority who has received their
undergraduate degree.
Bid: A formal invitation to join a fraternity
or sorority.

Colony: A fraternal membership which has
received approval from the University and
recognition from one of the Greek governing
councils but is in a trial period with their
national organization and their
governing council.

Informal/Open Recruitment: The
unstructured recruitment process by which
fraternities and sororities take members
throughout the academic year.
Legacy: A prospective member whose
grandparents, mother/father, or sister/
brother is an alumni of a
fraternity/sorority.
National or International Organization:
The Inter/National organization that
issues the charter for a chapter.Â This
entity is comprised of the inter/national
officers for the organization and is

13

responsible for setting and enforcing
organization policy.
North-American Interfraternity
Council (NIC): An organization
composed of more than 50 national
member menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fraternities.

Epsilon
(ep-si-lon)

National Panhellenic Conference
(NPC): An organization composed of
26 member womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sororities.

Chapter: A chartered undergraduate or
alumni group that is recognized by the
international fraternity.

Fraternity: A Greek letter sisterhood
or brotherhood.

Alpha
(al-fah)

Potential Members: Any person who
is not a current member of a fraternity
or sorority.

Iota
(eye-o-ta)

Philanthropy: Fund-raising projects
sponsored by fraternities or sororities
supporting local and inter/national
charitable organizations.
New Member: A man or woman who
has accepted an invitation to membership in
a fraternity or sorority but has not
been initiated.

Nu
(new)

Beta
(bay-tah)

Zeta
(zay-tah)

Kappa
(cap-pah)

Xi
(zie)

Gamma
(gam-ah)

Eta
(ay-tah)

Theta
(thay-tah)

Mu
(mew)

Lamba
(lamb-dah)

Omicron
(om-e-cron)

Delta
(del-ta)

Pi
(pie)

New Member Program: The period of time
before initiation when new members learn
about their fraternity or sorority.
Recruitment: The continual process of
recruiting men and women to become
members of the fraternity and
sorority community.

Rho
(roe)

Tau
(taw)

Sigma
(sig-mah)

Upsilon
(up-si-lon)

Sorority: A Greek letter sisterhood.

Phi
(fie)

Chi
(kie)

Psi
(sigh)

Omega
(oh-may-gah)

14

Leadership and Service
Intercultural and Diversity Affairs
Fraternity and Sorority Life
June Anderson Center for
Women and Nontraditional Students

OUR MISSION:
The men and women of the
fraternity and sorority community
at Middle Tennessee State
University strive to promote
excellence in academics, encourage
leadership and service, foster
lifelong friendship and responsible
citizenship, and aim to enrich the
lives of its members and affected
communities.